Nanjing is surrounded by mountains and water, with lush greenery throughout the city. Stroll through Jinling in the early morning along plane tree-lined avenues and trace the lingering charm of Republican-era architecture. In the afternoon, head into the hidden beauty of Zhongshan Mountain and climb to the high terraces of the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum. At night, cruise along the Qinhuai River, wander through Confucius Temple, and experience the river scenes once captured in Du Mu's poetry...

A Walk Beneath the Plane Trees

Nanjing's classic plane tree-lined avenues connect half of the city's Republican-era history. Towering plane trees on both sides intertwine to form a natural green tunnel, earning the area its reputation as "Nanjing's green corridor" with a uniquely atmospheric play of light and shadow.

More than a calling card for tourism, this landscape carries deep historical meaning. From its planning in the 1920s to its status today as a popular visitor destination, every inch of land and every ancient tree holds stories of time and bears witness to the dedication of those who have protected it.

Plane Tree Avenue

Photo from the website of the Nanjing Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum Administration Bureau

The towering plane trees interlace their branches and leaves, weaving a continuous green "dome" that shields visitors from the blazing sun and summer heat. Walking beneath it, you are surrounded by vivid greenery, with a gentle breeze brushing your face and a natural coolness all around.

Visit Meiling Palace

Among the stretches of plane tree-lined avenues are several Republican-era landmarks, including the quiet and elegant Meiling Palace.

Built against the slope of the mountain, Meiling Palace blends Chinese and Western architectural styles with a dignified, graceful presence. Its blue-tiled eaves and delicate carved details give it a gentle, vintage charm.

The plane trees surrounding the residence cast a romantic yet weighty veil of time over the building. It is not only a representative relic of Republican-era architecture, but also a microcosm of Jinling's century of change. Every brick, tile, blade of grass, and tree is engraved with traces of time.

Meiling Palace

Photo by Tuchong Creative

Climb the Sun Yat-Sen Mausoleum

The Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum is located on the southern slope of Zhongmao Peak in Zhongshan Mountain and is the tomb of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Built into the mountain, the mausoleum faces open plains in front and is backed by green peaks, giving it a magnificent presence. Its layout takes the shape of a "Liberty Bell." The mausoleum complex is arranged symmetrically along a central axis, from the memorial archway, tomb passage, mausoleum gate, and stele pavilion to the sacrificial hall and burial chamber. All are built with white granite and reinforced concrete, topped with blue glazed tiles. The Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum is listed among the first batch of major cultural heritage sites protected at the national level and was selected for the first list of "China's 20th-Century Architectural Heritage." Nearby are several commemorative buildings, including the Music Stage, Xingjian Pavilion, Guanghua Pavilion, Liuhui Pavilion, and the Sutra Repository.

Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum

Photo from the website of the Nanjing Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum Administration Bureau

Follow the stone steps slowly upward, where the breeze passes through the woods and dispels the mugginess of midsummer. From the top, you can overlook the whole city, with endless greenery stretching before your eyes and the grandeur of the mountains and rivers fully revealed.

Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum

Photo from the website of the Nanjing Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum Administration Bureau

Librairie Avant-Garde

Deep within the shade of the trees lies one of Jinling's most representative cultural landmarks: Librairie Avant-Garde.

This cultural space, once named by CNN as "China's most beautiful bookstore," is rooted in a neighborhood shaded by plane trees and retains a quiet, distinctive literary atmosphere.

As one of Nanjing's urban cultural calling cards, Librairie Avant-Garde uses books as its medium and space as its vessel, allowing Republican-era charm and humanistic spirit to blend here. It adds a warm, scholarly undertone to the city, letting visitors who wander through not only touch the texture of time, but also encounter the bookish romance of Nanjing.

Librairie Avant-Garde, Nanjing

Photo by Tuchong Creative

Night Tour of Confucius Temple

As the sun sets and dusk deepens, head for the ten-mile Qinhuai River to discover the moving summer night scenery of Jinling.

The evening breeze over the Qinhuai River is gentle, and the water glimmers with soft ripples. The heat of the day fades away, leaving only the tenderness of the waterside town and the warmth of everyday life.

Night view of the Qinhuai River

Photo by Tuchong Creative

Shops line the streets, the aroma of snacks fills the air, and the market bustles with life, revealing the lively everyday charm of Jinling. The most leisurely experience is a night cruise. As the boat glides slowly over the green waves, the lights along the ten-mile Qinhuai stretch endlessly, dreamlike and enchanting.

Duck blood vermicelli soup, simmered with old duck, is rich, fresh, and flavorful, with smooth, springy vermicelli. Golden beef potstickers sizzle with juicy filling, and a dip in fragrant vinegar makes each bite burst with aroma. Thin, translucent crab roe soup dumplings rest on the plate; first, gently sip the fresh crab broth, then enjoy the meat filling inside. The flavor is so delicious you will not want to stop.

Duck blood vermicelli soup

Photo by Tuchong Creative

And that's not all. There are also plum blossom cakes, red bean tangyuan, honey-glazed lotus root stuffed with glutinous rice, ruyi cakes, water chestnut cakes, lotus seed cakes, and all kinds of sweet pastries and dessert soups. The gentle, indulgent flavors of a Jinling summer night are simply too many to count...